Sustainability in the Kitchen Saturday - 1st February 2020

Being environmentally friendly is on the rise, we have more knowledge about what we consume more than ever. Taking care of the future is taking care of our planet. One thing we like to tackle at The White Label is being sustainable within the kitchen so that we can support our planet in prospering. When looking where the highest amount of waste comes from within your home or work, the kitchen is first to come to mind.

Reducing kitchen waste for sustainable consumables

The biggest problem with kitchen waste is how easy it is to be wasteful in this area. Out of date food to plastic food packaging, it can be difficult to know how to prevent it. We have provided some useful remedies to this so that we can keep our carbon footprint down. They are maintainable to do, so why not give them a try today.

Sustainable kitchen life

It can be easy to have life catch up with you; the majority of lifestyles are busy. There is also the overwhelming factor of not knowing how to start when it comes to being environmentally friendly in day-to-day life. This is entirely normal and we have some suggestions on starting out in the kitchen.

Tackling the food

Food waste equates to one of the largest contributors to damage on the environment. The wastage of food also expresses waste in to the damage of resourcing it. The creation of some food groups has a huge environmental impact on the planet, all for the world to waste a third of it. With all that in mind it can be easy to not consume all the products you may buy when shopping but there are ways around it

When you are about to start your next grocery shop or make your next meal, keep these tips in mind:
1. Try to buy exactly what you need. This will prevent you from over buying, which can then be wasted. Write a list of meals that you are prepared to make and buy precisely that.

  1. Look at what has been left over from the previous grocery shop and understand areas where you have wasted food. That way you will prevent wastage from happening in the same area again.

  2. If you have leftovers, they're not out of date. Get creative and make a new meal with it. We have some delicious recipes available on our blog for inspiration so give them a try with those tasty leftovers.

  3. Stop over serving food! This is a restaurant driven culture and it is natural to want to eat a lot of food after a tiring day of work. However sometimes it is a matter of eyes being too big for the belly and an easy way to waste food.

  4. Creating a compost bin is a super inexpensive and easy way to put any food waste in. It’s also perfect for the environment as it reduces waste that is sent to landfill.

Tackling excessive plastic

Plastic is a well-known contributor in damaging the planet. However it is also very difficult to escape. We are all human and there will be times in which we have to buy something wrapped in plastic especially when it comes to things in the kitchen. Nevertheless, it is about being as sustainable as you can, and there are some great ways to prevent any excessive plastic in the kitchen waste.

It is best to start by making yourself familiar with what you can recycle in your area. It is true that not all plastic can be recycled and not all areas take the same recycling. Once you have done this, you will then be able to buy better and eco-friendly packaging on your grocery shop.

Another way to recycle is to reuse plastic in your kitchen. Any pots with a lid can be washed and reused for storage of other foods. Storing your leftover food in reusable containers is a fantastic way to tackle two environmental issues of wasting within the kitchen.

Ideas for thought

Using a cloth within the kitchen is one major way of reducing the use of paper towels. You can purchase cotton cloths or simply cutting up older towels. They are washable and will reduce the amount of waste thrown out by the napkins.

Once you have established what it is you waste and what you consume a lot of. You could then buy specifics in bulk. Buying in bulk or the bigger versions of items is a great way to reduce wastage of packaging.

If you really want to get into the swing of being eco-friendly, try growing your own food. Even if you were to start with easy plants such as seasonings or herbs, it will prevent the consumption of plastic that you throw from the kitchen. If you have the space and the time, growing your own vegetables or smaller food plants is fantastic for reducing waste.

Reducing the kitchen waste is just one step into tackling the big subject of saving the planet. If you are struggling where to start try when it comes to being eco-friendly. Go through your kitchen and see what food can be saved and what plastic can be recycled. One thing to always remember is, every little step is supportive and will provide change.